University of Osaka researchers develop electrical method to detect biosignatures

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a new electrical method to identify potential biosignatures, which could assist in the search for extraterrestrial life. The technique focuses on the chirality of amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of proteins.

In biological organisms, amino acids exist almost exclusively in the L-form, whereas non-biological chemical and physical processes typically produce L- and D-forms in nearly equal amounts. By measuring the ratio of these mirror-image molecules, scientists can distinguish between biological and non-biological origins.

Unlike traditional methods that analyze large groups of molecules and require complex chemical reagents, this new electrical approach is designed to be simpler, more compact, and less sensitive to vibrations. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.